As I mentioned last week, it's time to start taking advantage of a normally sedentary time of year. Many creatures take a long sleep in the winter at the end of a long busy season. I feel like being one of those creatures. Nothing sounds better to me right now than months of lounging around, reading books and watching movies. And probably I'm going to do some of that.​ But I also want to try some new stuff and make room for some old favorites. No, my day doesn't suddenly have more hours in it and yes, I still work for a living outside the home. So, what gives?​ The blog. THE BLOG? And social media (FB) and whatever else I notice is sucking time out of my day that isn't on the list of things I want to accomplish. There is a time and place for everything and right now I think it's time for a big long blog nap.​ I know most of you are wrapping up the canning season and we (at least here in Zone 5) are pretty much done growing plants for the year. A lot of the information I would share with you won't be timely again until Spring, and in any case, it's probably been talked about before and can be found in the archives over on the right. --------->​ I'm looking forward to my winter vacation and I know I'll have lots of great new stories for you when I return. NEW CONTENT, YAY! I am planning on dusting off the Twitter feed and might even figure out Instagram since I won't ever be able to stop taking pictures and feeling compelled to share them with you. Which reminds me that the YouTube channel will also get periodic updates, so if you aren't already following me on these formats, please Subscribe immediately! I will post the information below. Of course, I am always available via e-mail, so if all else fails, drop me a note.​ As always, I am thankful to all of those who have followed my blog over the years and I hope to continue to see your shiny faces on the other formats as well. It's newer technology and even if we are old dogs, we need to learn the new tricks, right? Maybe it won't even be that difficult. So, join me? ​ Have a great winter and see you back here on the blog in the Spring!

The first few clicks of Fall: leaves turning, then falling; the slowing of the grass; falling temps at night; all conspire to remind us of what is coming.​ The Long Dark. 6 months of dreary overcast cold days and night. October - March. The chickens will lose their feathers then stop laying. Freezing temps mean freezing water, so we'll have to remain vigilant to keep the water sources viable for our animals. The fish will go dormant and the turtle comes inside to her winter playground. Pete gets a jacket and Lucy will want her blanket. All the busy of spring and summer slow to a crawl as the world outside goes to sleep.​ Every year at this time I find myself getting anxious. What will we do without sunshine? How will we cope? What is there to look forward to? And then I remember. It's time for the Big 3.

Repair, Recharge, Reset

STEP 1 - REPAIR:​Before it gets super cold and crappy out, check the coops, fences, equipment. Clean up the mower, organize the tools. Check out the end of season sales to stock up on gloves, etc. If it needs new parts, or a tune up, make it happen. Don't wait for Spring when you need things to be up and running.

STEP 2 - RECHARGE:​Once the weather forces you inside, find the things that heal you. Sleep. Read. Cook. Check out that documentary. Give your mind and bones time to rest. Be still, be thoughtful, write down your plan for next year.

Homemade sourdough bread

STEP 3 - RESET:​Now that you are feeling more yourself, turn it up a notch. Implement that exercise program. Keep yourself accountable. Make a goal and work towards it. Clean that closet. Organize that drawer. Declutter. Try new recipes, eat well. Break out a project-sewing, building, painting, whatever you have been putting off. Get the materials and go for it. Keep chipping away until you have completed your task. Then clean up and put it away. Get ready for new. You'll feel really good about what you have accomplished.

The point of all of this is three-fold. One, you get to do things you have been putting off forever. Two, you'll be so focused on your task that winter will slip by quickly, almost unnoticed. Three, you'll have cleared the mental clutter that bogs you down so that when Spring comes, you'll be ready to head outside again with a free mind and body.​ Don't let this time of year lock you up. Use it to your advantage. Don't be afraid of the dark. Make it your friend. You might just find that you look forward to this season, when you have more flexibility with your schedule and more hours in the day to Do You. It's here. It's now. Let's go!

Hi, I'm Sue Pranskus, and this is my sometime blog. It's mostly about my attempts to "green-up" my life. On our little farm we experiment with livestock, gardening, building, repurposing and anything else that we find interesting. Born and bred on the West Coast, I am living in the Midwest by choice, not circumstance. I have built a life based largely on core values and loosely on whimsy. It's that whimsy, though, that gets me in trouble every time!